Over four months after elections, efforts to form a new government flopped again in an enduring spat between Belgium’s Dutch and French-speaking camps that touches on the fate of the country as a unitary state.

Stockholm has been dressed up in flowers, flags and royal portraits for today’s fairytale wedding between Crown Princess Victoria and gym owner Daniel Westling.

Stockholm has been dressed up in flowers, flags and royal portraits for today’s fairytale wedding between Crown Princess Victoria and gym owner Daniel Westling.

BELGIUM faced political and economic limbo yesterday as right-wing Flemish separatist and French-speaking Socialist election winners sized each other up going into entrenched talks.

Belgium's King Albert II has today accepted the government's resignation after the coalition of the prime minister broke down last week.

BELGIUM plunged into political crisis yesterday as Prime Minister Yves Leterme threw in the towel after a key Flemish party quit his coalition government two months before the country assumes the EU chair.

Belgium has turned to a veteran politician to broker a new government after a scandal over the botched bail-out of the Fortis bank forced the ruling coalition to resign.

BELGIUM’S future hung in the balance last night as King Albert II considered whether to let his prime minister, Yves Leterme, resign over his failure to bridge the gulf between the country’s two linguistic communities.

The Belgian government failed to agree on more self-rule for Belgium’s Dutch and French-speaking camps, forcing Prime Minister Yves Leterme to offer King Albert the resignation of his cabinet, according to media reports.

The heads of the Belgian royal family will finish their three-day state visit to Ireland with a reception at the Cliffs of Moher today.

The heads of the Belgian royal family today began a busy three-day state visit to Ireland which included several joint and separate engagements.

The heads of the Belgian royal family begin a three-day state visit to Ireland today.

President Mary McAleese leaves today on a five-day visit to Belgium and Italy.

Belgians marked the 87th anniversary of the end of the First World War today, with sombre ceremonies planned at the nation’s tomb of the unknown soldier and the playing of the Last Post at the famous Menen Gate in the town of Ieper, which saw some of the fiercest fighting of the “Great War”.

Princess Mathilde, the wife of Crown Prince Philippe, today gave birth to their third child Emmanuel, who will be fourth in line of succession to the Belgian throne.

BELOW a golden crown, Prince Rainier III was given a tearful farewell yesterday at a funeral in Monaco's cathedral.

Prince Rainier III of Monaco is to be laid to rest today beside his late wife, the American film star Grace Kelly, in the cathedral where they were married a half century ago.

MONACO prepared to say farewell to long-time ruler Prince Rainier with a solemn funeral in the Mediterranean statelet’s cathedral, attended by a smattering of European royals and political figures.

Two people badly burned in a massive gas pipeline explosion in Belgium last week died of their injuries overnight, taking the death toll to 18.

BELGIUM Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt took office as head of a new centre-left government that immediately agreed to replace a war crimes law which has soured Belgium’s relations with the US.

Belgium celebrated its first female heir to the throne today, a day after Princess Mathilde, wife of Crown Prince Philippe, gave birth to their first child, a daughter.